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+--- Thread: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World (/showthread.php?tid=23339)
NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - Ruby - 26-02-2023
IRIS DEMENT ~ WORKIN’ ON A WORLD
![[Image: NDItODE4Ni5qcGVn.jpeg]](https://i.discogs.com/KL6EG09KTGNXXBTVE56ZxcSOg7fuvKurgS1nrY1Omrk/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:530/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI2MTkz/NTA5LTE2NzcxMDc0/NDItODE4Ni5qcGVn.jpeg)
This album errs more on the side of folk than country, to me - she wrote eight tracks, her husband, Greg Brown wrote two, and another two were co-written with Brown’s daughter Pieta (with whom Mark Knopfler had a little collaboration as an aside!).
Ms DeMent is very much her own artist – not a lot of ‘sounds likes’, except oddly enough, I get a bit of a Van Morrison vibe now and then and some Sir Bob on the eight minute plus "Goin' Down To Sing In Texas". She doesn’t mince her words and there is nothing covert about her politics. She pays homage to individuals who’ve taken a stand against social injustice, and on the other hand criticises ego mongers – the menacing “Let Me Be Your Jesus” being a prime example of that! Actually - turns out the husband wrote that one, but anyway ... Even if I didn’t know that she was raised in a Pentecostal environment, I think I’d recognise that influence both in the music and the lyrics (although that’s a path she no longer treads if her songwriting is anything to go by); a certain spirituality clings unremittingly to what she does, but she also doesn't suffer fools, or foolishness.
An unusual and distinctive voice, pillowed by almost hymnal sounds on occasion. Interesting listen – made me think, made me learn a thing or two – always a good thing …
"Workin' On A World" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOS7OiLE11c - this title track speaks of taking certain actions even though you likely won't see the result of those actions in the future - sort of like planting a tree that you won't see reach maturity - you plant it anyway ... if people hadn't done that before us - where would we be?
The Texas epic (lyrics under the link) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfwzAq_WHRE
"Warriors of Love" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DgUxBaTB4Y
"Let Me Be Your Jesus" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emH5RKPxZOA
"The Sacred Now" ...
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - Music Head - 26-02-2023
^^
I'll be fitting this in somewhere
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - Ruby - 26-02-2023
^Goody. I look forward to your thoughts!
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - JeromeD - 27-02-2023
(26-02-2023, 17:08)Music Head Wrote: ^^
I'll be fitting this in somewhere
Makes two of us. She intrigues me. Always has.
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - CRAZY-HORSE - 27-02-2023
make that three out of three....
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - Music Head - 04-03-2023
not charting of course
stupid americans
7th album
8 year layoff
born in Arkansas but transplanted to LA at 3
Arkansas must have stuck with the voice
which I love
only a few I didn't care for
worst being Walkin' Daddy
I did feel the Dylan in the Texas track (2nd fav)
thanks for posting this Ruby
best for me
but I would have replaced the horns with some steel guitar
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - Ruby - 05-03-2023
^You're most welcome MH - glad you listened! And mostly liked.
RE: NEW ALBUM: IRIS DEMENT ~ Workin' On A World - CRAZY-HORSE - 06-03-2023
up early this morning and gave this album a listen.
best for me has already been posted by Ruby, love the frail/chilling vocals on "let me be your jesus", brilliant stuff iMO.
also loved the one MH posted as a second standout for me.
rest of the album is very good IMO.
its on the "to purchase list",
thanks Ruby.